OpenAI Employee Charged with Planting Recording Device in Conference Room

On October 13, 2026, Abdulrahman Alfozan, 35, an OpenAI engineer, was arrested on charges related to the surreptitious installation of a recording device in an executive conference room at the company’s premises. The U.S. Justice Department disclosed this development and stated that Alfozan, a Saudi national, had been charged with using a device to intercept oral communications.

Alfozan joined OpenAI in July 2025. On September 30, OpenAI staff discovered a recording device hidden inside toilet paper in a televised conference room frequently used for sensitive discussions such as research, business plans, and development strategies.

The device, camouflaged as a USB plug, was discovered two days post-installation.

Following the revelation, OpenAI contacted the FBI and dismissed Alfozan. In their statement, OpenAI emphasized their commitment to safeguarding technology and proprietary data. They noted no evidence of unauthorized access to model weights, source code, or customer data, reaffirming their robust security program aimed at defending against diverse threats.

FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the agency’s engagement in Alfozan’s arrest via a post on X, highlighting the ongoing investigation.

The unsealed criminal complaint revealed that Alfozan sought information on OpenAI’s building locations, meeting venues, and executive gatherings using a productivity tool. Additional evidence pointed to a chatbot account linked to Alfozan’s spouse, querying about creating and deploying continuous audio recording devices between September 24 and 30.

A photograph in the complaint showed Alfozan examining behind a television in the conference room on October 5. He had also left a bag containing identification materials and another similar recording device in a separate room, discovered by OpenAI’s security team.

Alfozan’s subsequent federal court appearance is scheduled for October 19 for a detention hearing. CBS News has requested comments from Alfozan’s attorney.

Joe Walsh contributed to the report.